People wait in line outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, to listen to oral arguments in the Shelby County, Ala., v. Holder voting rights case. The justices are hearing arguments in a challenge to the part of the Voting Rights Act that forces places with a history of discrimination, mainly in the Deep South, to get approval before they make any change in the way elections are held. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) less

People wait in line outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, to listen to oral arguments in the Shelby County, Ala., v. Holder voting rights case. The justices are hearing arguments ... more

Photo: Evan Vucci / Associated Press

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People wait outside the Supreme Court in Washington as key decisions are expected to be announced Monday, June 24, 2013. At the end of the court's term, several major cases are still outstanding that could have widespread political impact on same-sex marriage, voting rights, and affirmative action. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less

People wait outside the Supreme Court in Washington as key decisions are expected to be announced Monday, June 24, 2013. At the end of the court's term, several major cases are still outstanding that could ... more

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

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TV crews wait outside the Supreme Court in Washington as key decisions are expected to be announced Monday, June 24, 2013. At the end of the court's term, several major cases are still outstanding that could have widespread political impact on same-sex marriage, voting rights, and affirmative action. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less

TV crews wait outside the Supreme Court in Washington as key decisions are expected to be announced Monday, June 24, 2013. At the end of the court's term, several major cases are still outstanding that could ... more

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

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House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif.,speaks during a rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, before arguments in the Shelby County, Ala., v. Holder voting rights case. The justices are hearing arguments in a challenge to the part of the Voting Rights Act that forces places with a history of discrimination, mainly in the Deep South, to get approval before they make any change in the way elections are held. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) less

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif.,speaks during a rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, before arguments in the Shelby County, Ala., v. Holder voting rights case. ... more

Photo: Evan Vucci / Associated Press

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Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan (at center with hands clasped) joins others in a march across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on a voting rights caravan across Alabama on Friday, June 14, 2013. Farrakhan spoke at rallies earlier Friday in Birmingham and in Shelby County. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) less

Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan (at center with hands clasped) joins others in a march across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on a voting rights caravan across Alabama on Friday, June ... more

Photo: Dave Martin / Associated Press

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Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan (behind row of security with hands clasped) joins others in a march across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on a voting rights caravan across Alabama on Friday, June 14, 2013. Farrakhan spoke at rallies earlier Friday in Birmingham and in Shelby County. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) less

Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan (behind row of security with hands clasped) joins others in a march across the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on a voting rights caravan across Alabama on ... more

Photo: Dave Martin / Associated Press

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Louis Farrakhan, second from left, speaks at the state capitol steps in Montgomery, Ala. on Friday June 14, 2013. Farrakhan and others are holding a caravan across Alabama to encourage the U.S. Supreme Court to save a major portion of the Voting Rights Act. (AP Photo/Montgomery Advertiser, Mickey Welsh) NO SALES less

Louis Farrakhan, second from left, speaks at the state capitol steps in Montgomery, Ala. on Friday June 14, 2013. Farrakhan and others are holding a caravan across Alabama to encourage the U.S. Supreme Court ... more

Photo: Mickey Welsh / Associated Press

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This July 27, 2006 file photo shows President George W. Bush, center, surrounded by members of Congress signing legislation extending for 25 years the Voting Rights Act, on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington. Three years ago, the Supreme Court warned there could be constitutional problems with a landmark civil rights law that has opened voting booths to millions of African-Americans. Now, opponents of a key part of the Voting Rights Act are asking the high court to finish off that provision. Front row, from left are, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) less

This July 27, 2006 file photo shows President George W. Bush, center, surrounded by members of Congress signing legislation extending for 25 years the Voting Rights Act, on the South Lawn at the White House in ... more

Photo: Ron Edmonds / Associated Press

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FILE - In this Aug. 6, 1965, photo, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in a ceremony in the President's Room near the Senate Chambers on Capitol Hill in Washington. Three years ago, the Supreme Court warned there could be constitutional problems with a landmark civil rights law that has opened voting booths to millions of African-Americans. Now, opponents of a key part of the Voting Rights Act are asking the high court to finish that provision off. Surrounding the president from left directly above his right hand, Vice President Hubert Humphrey; House Speaker John McCormack; Rep. Emanuel Celler, D-N.Y.; first daughter Luci Johnson; and Sen. Everett Dirksen, R-Ill. Behind Humphrey is House Majority Leader Carl Albert of Oklahoma; and behind Celler is Sen. Carl Hayden, D-Ariz. (AP Photo) less

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 1965, photo, President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in a ceremony in the President's Room near the Senate Chambers on Capitol Hill in Washington. Three years ... more

The Justice Department’s action today to force Texas to abide by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act won applause from Democrats — but left Republicans who run the state and dominate the congressional delegation furious.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, said Attorney General Eric Holder was correct to try to block Texas from unilaterally implementing its 2011 Voter ID law and its recently ratified congressional and legislative redistricting maps.

Joaquin Castro (Express-News photo)

“Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature has put Texas in a place where we need oversight for clear attacks on voters’ rights,” said Castro. “We must continue to protect the basic right to choose our elected officials guaranteed by our American Constitution.”

While the June 25 U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down Section 4 of the landmark Voting Rights Act — which listed the states covered by the Section 5 “preclearance” provisions — the administration believes that Texas is still covered by that provision because a federal court found that the Legislature intentionally discriminated against minority Texans.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who attended the House hearing Tuesday on the Voting Rights Act, said states like Texas still needed federal oversight before changes are made to voting laws.

“I want to provide for all voters a clear pathway to the ballot box,” she said. “It will not be a question of whether Texas is covered as whether we write the kind of law that provides the strict scrutiny of barriers that would keep you, or me or any other Texan or any other American from voting.”

Texas Republicans had a very different point of view.

“Texans should not – and will not – stand for the continued bullying of our state by the Obama administration,” Sen. John Cornyn, a San Antonio Republican, said.

Sen. John Cornyn (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

“This decision has nothing to do with protecting voting rights and everything to do with advancing a partisan political agenda,” Cornyn said.

Rep. Randy Weber, a Friendswood Republican and former state legislator, accused the Justice Department of defying the Supreme Court.

“Nowhere in the Constitution is the United States Attorney General given the authority to force his hand upon the states,” said Weber, a first-term congressman. “The Supreme Court has ruled, and that should be reason enough for Mr. Holder to stay out of Texas.”

Weber said his then-colleagues in the Texas Legislature were merely trying to prevent fraud when they passed the Voter ID law in 2011.

Randy Weber with Rick Perry (AP photo)

“Texas has a long-standing track record proving we work hard to ensure fair and open elections,” he said. “Texas does not need the Federal government, especially Eric Holder, telling us what we can and cannot do with our voting laws. We have three branches of government to provide a check and balance.”

Gov. Rick Perry, who endorsed the move to immediately implement the Voter ID law following the Supreme Court’s decision, saw political motivations in the administration’s action, too.

“Once again, the Obama administration is demonstrating utter contempt for our country’s system of checks and balances, not to mention the U.S. Constitution,” Perry said. “This end-run around the Supreme Court undermines the will of the people of Texas, and casts unfair aspersions on our state’s common-sense efforts to preserve the integrity of our elections process.”

Multiple members, including Rep. Kevin Brady, a Republican from The Woodlands, viewed Texas as a special target of the Democratic administration.

TEXAS TARGETED AGAIN. Eric Holder is trying to skirt the Supreme Court ruling to single out Texas. http://t.co/4nxOZNxA6L

But Castro said the administration was helping the powerless in Texas by fighting wrongdoing by the powerful. He said he and other freshman members have already begun conversations about how to work with the justice department to “in any way necessary to protect every American’s right to vote.”

Chairman of the Texas Legislature’s Mexican American Legislative Caucus also commanded the Justice Department for its intervention on behalf of Texas voters.

“Inequality and injustice have no place in America, but sadly, racial discrimination in Texas is not a thing of the past,” state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer said. “The fact that intervention in Texas is the Department of Justice’s first action to protect voting rights following the Shelby County decision speaks volumes about the seriousness of Texas’ actions.”

He added that “the stain of discrimination cannot be removed until Texas’ maps recognize the growth of the Latino, African American, and Asian American communities. Every Texan’s vote must count.”

But Republican Rep. John Culberson said Holder’s challenge would ultimately fall flat.

“I am confident that the courts will reaffirm the validity of Texas’s voter ID law, just as they have upheld the validity of every voter ID law that they have reviewed,” he said in a statement. “I’m also confident that Attorney General Holder’s blatantly political use of the Voting Rights Act against Texas will also be rejected on its merits.”